Wheel Bearings

After some hiccups getting the recording started, Nicole told us about the latest Genesis GV70 and Robbie almost had a chance to save a wedding with the Ford F-150 Lightning. Sam enjoyed cruising in the Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack which both really loud and not loud enough.

Sam tried out BlueCruise 1.5 and its auto lane changing while driving to Ohio to buy a used EV. He and his wife came back to Michigan with a lightly used Kia EV6. Make sure to check out the No Pain, No Gain series on TFL. Hertz is starting to use AI scanners to detect damage on rental cars. The EV tax credits are being killed at the end of September. Volvo is going to build the Polestar 7 at its new Slovakia plant starting in 2028. The Chevy Trax is getting a big price bump for 2026 and a Tesla robotaxi tapped a parked car. We also responded to a bunch of listener emails.

Links

Ford Blue Cruise 1.5

No Pain, No Gain on TFL

Charger Daytona recalled for being too quiet

Hertz AI Scanners

EV Tax Credits end Sept 30

Polestar 7 to be produced in Slovakia in 2028

Chevy Trax Price Increase

Tesla contacts parked car

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This week Nicole has been tackling the notoriously smooth New England pavement in the Hyundai Ioniq 5N while Robbie had the Alfa Romeo Tonale PHEV and Sam trecked across Michigan in the Mini Countryman SE ALL4.

This week Sam visited two plants for the production of lithium iron phosphate batteries, Ford's BlueOval Battery Park in Marshall, MI and the LG Energy Solution plant in Holland, MI. Ford revealed the new Explorer Tremor and AMG has a concept for its upcoming EV, the GT XX. Tesla sort of launched its robotaxis and Mazda launched the 6e sedan in Europe. Nicole and Sam drove the 2026 Honda CR-V Trailsport, Nissan has launched its next-generation e-Power system in the Qashqi in Europe and it's coming to the Rogue in 2026. Cadillac is already making notable upgrades to the Optiq for model year 2026. Sam also has conversations with Ford's Lisa Drake and Honda's Jonathan Yu.

Links

Ford BlueOval Battery Park

Ford Explorer Tremor

CONCEPT AMG GT XX

LG Energy Solution Holland Plant

Tesla Robotaxi launch fail

Mazda 6e

Honda CR-V Trailsport

Nissan Qashqi e-Power

2026 Cadillac Optiq upgrades

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Robbie has family commitments today so Perry Stern is sitting in with Nicole and Sam. Perry's been driving the McLaren 750S in Volcano Yellow and Cadillac Escalade. Nicole had the new gas powered Chevy Equinox and Sam had the new 2025 Mini Cooper S 4-door.

In the news we discuss Audi's latest attempt to reinvent the steering wheel stalk and BMW's new flax fiber composites. Most of China's auto plants are barely producing any vehicles and Congress is trying to gut fuel economy, emissions standards and kill any incentive for EVs. Hyundai and Toyota think 60 miles of range is enough for a plug-in hybrid. Stellantis is testing Fiat 500e's with swappable battery modules. Changes to the national electrical code could kill DIY EV charger installs. Ram cranks up the powertrain warranty and Honda launches an electric delivery vehicle for Europe.

Links

Audi Q3 reinvents the stalk

BMW creates plant fiber composites

China auto plants average 49% utilzation

Congessional majority aiming to gut emissions, CAFE, IRA

Hyundai/Toyota pausing race for ultra long range PHEVs

Stellantis testing battery swap 500e with Ample

Electric code change could ban DIY charger installs

Ram launches 10year/100K mile warranty

Honda launches Fastport eQuad prototype

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In the news, Nissan finally completely redesigns the Nissan Leaf after 15 years. The Corvette reaches its pinnacle, but it's not called Zora. GM is spending $4 billion move vehicle assembly from Mexico to the US. BMW and AAA have dueling EV consumer surveys. The Mustang GTD costs nearly twice as much as a ZR1 and the Republican war on EVs continues.

Links

2026 Nissan Leaf

GM spends $4B to shift production from Mexico to US

Corvette ZR1X

NHTSA to Streamline AV Exemption Process

BMW EV survey

AAA EV survey

Mustang GTD Costs Nearly Double Corvette ZR1

Trump Revokes California Emissions Waiver, Stellantis Still on the hook for EVs

Budget bill could prevent states from regulating AVs

Check out Sam's 2-minute daily podcast

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Nicole is back and to tell us what sorts of pies she shared with her husband at the Julian Pie Company last week and talk about the Kia K4 that turned up in her driveway for the third time as well as the Toyota 4Runner. Robbie did some G-Turns in the Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ technology. Sam had the Nissan Murano Platinum and Honda Passport Trailsport.

Porsche has built a road legal version of the 963 race car for Roger Penske and Tim Kuniskis has restored the Hemi V8 to its rightful place in the Ram 1500. China is playing trade hardball with rare earth magnets. Edmunds finally sold their Fisker Ocean and lost a fortune on it. The data proves it, interesting car colors are better than boring monochromatic colors. Cadillac has announced a faster Optiq-V with a NACS charging port and Ford has created an FX package for Mustang Fox body fans. Finally, Nicole and Sam chat with Mike Tripp, group vice president of marketing for Toyota brand.

Links

Porsche Builds Road-legal 963

Ram Brings Back the Hemi

Rare Earth magnets could halt auto production

Edmunds Finally Unloads its Fisker Ocean

Best Colors to Reduce Depreciation

Cadillac Optiq-V

2026 Ford Mustang FX Package

Mike Tripp

AI Revolution

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Nicole is trekking to the Julian Pie Company with her husband so it's mostly just Robbie and Sam. Robbie gives a preview of the electric Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen and Sam reviews the 2025 Cadillac Escalade Platinum.

In the news, Stellantis picks Antonio Fillosa as its new CEO and cancels a smart cockpit deal with Amazon. The Dodge Durango is back for another year with Hellcat power and we get our first look at the new Jeep Cherokee. Tesla FSD still doesn't stop for school buses. SAE has published an update to the J3400 standard for NACS charging connectors to enable higher speeds and GM may be producing LFP cells with LG and Samsung in the US. Nicole and Sam pre-recorded a review of the 2026 Toyota bZ and Sam interviews chief engineer Daisuke Ido. Nicole has a conversation with Mike Pennington, Director - Global Training, Event Marketing & Consumer Relations at Meguiar's all about car care.

Links

No More Manual Versas

Amazon and Stellantis kill Smart Cockpit deal

Antonio Filosa Gets the Top Job at Stellantis

First 2026 Jeep Cherokee images

Tesla FSD still doesn't stop for school buses

1 year only Durango Hellcat returns for year 5

SAE J3400/2 brings faster charging for NACS

Nicole on the 2026 Toyota bZ

Sam's Thoughts on the Toyota bZ

GM may produce LFP cells with LG and Samsung

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Nicole and Sam returned from Texas without picking up any measels. Nicole spent quality time with the Toyota Grand Highlander while Sam drove the Kia K5 GT, and Robbie spent another week without driving anything.

While in Texas for Toyota's HQ Confidential event, we saw the new 2026 all hybrid Rav4 and Lexus RZ 550e F-Sport with fake shifting along with a bunch of other stuff. The week before, we drove the Hyundai Ioniq 9 and the Cadillac Vistiq for the first time. Nissan has a cute new Micra EV but Americans won't be getting it because not enough of us will drive small cars. Honda is slowing some of its EV plans while Republican US senators voted to rescind California's ability to set its own EV rules. Customers are adding rip cords to Teslas so they can get out of the car loses power and Chevrolet has launched the Trail Boss version of the Silverado EV.

We answer some listener questions and we have an interview with Cooper Ericksen, head of product planning with Toyota North America

Links

2026 Toyota Rav4

Lexus RZ 550e F Sport

Nissan Micra EV

Cadillac Vistiq

Nicole on the Hyundai Ioniq 9

Sam on the Hyundai Ioniq 9

Honda's slowing EV rollout

Tesla Ripcords

Congress Trying to Kill California Emissions Standards

Chevrolet Silverado EV Trail Boss

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This week Sam has been driving the 2025 Cadillac Lyriq and supercharging it with the Lectron Vortex adapter. Nicole had the Subaru Forester Hybrid and Robbie rented a Toyota Camry Hybrid while covering the Formula SAE competition in Michigan.

Nicole also went on the first drive of the 2026 Ford Expedition and Sam had a first ride in the 2026 Hummer EV. Toyota announced 3 updated or new EVs for its lineup while Stellantis delayed the Ram 1500 Ramcharger. Aston Martin is finally launcing Carplay Ultra in the DBX and Infiniti is updating the QX60. We love Miatas, but we know some people don't fit so what should they buy? We also have listener emails.

https://youtu.be/drS2Gr6ozLk

Get the Lectron Vortex NACS-CCS charging adapter at a discount

Links

Toyota bZ Woodland

Toyota CH-R EV

2026 Toyota bZ

2026 Ford Expedition

2026 GMC Hummer

Trucks Faster than Vettes legal, small trucks not

Ramcharger Delayed Again

What to Buy If You Don't Fit in a Miata

Aston Martin CarPlay Ultra

2026 Infiniti QX60

Nissan Restructuring

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We've got a bit of a shorter show today because it was Nicole's turn to catch a trip and she accidently stopped the recording. Robbie went to Austria to ride the Can-Am Origin and Pulse electric motorcycles. Nicole drove the updated 2025.5 Volvo XC90 and Sam had the Nissan Rogue Rock Creek with its non-recovery hooks.

The 2026 Corvette looses its wall of buttons and gains a fabulous new color. Jeep launched the new Compass in Europe, but who knows when or if we will get it in North America thanks to tariffs. Volvo has an extended range PHEV XC70 for China and Ford is raising prices due to tariffs. Hyundai has Plug&Charge now and an electric Ferrari is coming in October. The F1 drivers paraded in Lego cars in Miami last week and the new Mercedes CLA won't charge on 400-500V chargers.

See the F1 Lego Cars

Sam tests the Lectron Vortex NACS-CCS adapter with a 2025 Cadillac Lyriq at a Supercharger. Get your Vortex adapter for a discount at https://ev-lectron.com/Wheel_Bearings_VortexPlug

Links

Corvette Roswell Green Metallic

2026 Jeep Compass HEV/BEV - 375hp

Volvo XC70

Ford increases prices on Mexico-built models

Ford expects tariffs to cost $1.5B in 2025

Hyundai starts to deploy Plug&Charge

Electric Ferrari to be revealed in October

Miami F1 Lego Driver's Parade

Be careful when photographing your lidar

Charging the Mercedes-Benz CLA

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This week Robbie has the Chevrolet Silverado EV LT and Nicole shares her Portugese airport blackout adventure. Sam drives the Ford F250 XL and the Chevrolet Equinox LT.

Akio Toyoda loves cool cars and doesn't think electric sports cars fit the bill. More than 28,000 GM V8s failed before GM recalled them. Who are the most influential people in automotive history? Toyota is sort of hooking up with Waymo. The VW ID Buzz is getting recalled because the 3rd seats are too roomy and there are new chargers in Detroit. Many automakers have underutilized factories and Hyundai has priced the Ioniq 9, plus answers to listener questions.

Links

Akio doesn't believe in electric sports cars

28K GM V8s failed before recall

most influential people in automotive history

Toyota Hails a Waymo

ID Buzz recalled because rear seat too comfortable

US plant utilization

Hyundai prices Ioniq 9 in US

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